Shoulder rest for violins



G. W. JORDAN. SHOULDER BEST FOR VIOLINS. APPLICATION rug!) MAR, 2|,

Patented May 16, 1922.

gwuentoz .J flan a: GEUE'EEW DP w m m UNITED mm PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. JORDAN, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

SHOULDER BEST FOR VIOLINs.

Application filed March 21, 1921. semi 13453917.

new and useful Improvements in Shoulder Rests for Violins,of which t he'following is a specification, y

This invent1on relates to shoulder rests for violins," and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved shoulder rest, which is so constructed that the violin can be firmly and easily held without the use of one hand, the rest absolutely precluding the possibility of the slipping of the violin. i

Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved shoulder rest which can be readilyand easily attached to violins "of various sizes, and which is made in sections so as to facilitate the placing of the violin in its case.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shoulder rest embodying a depending rest arranged to fit upon the collar bone, and an outwardly extending curved portion having a relatively broad bearing surface for engaging the shoulder, the shoulder engaging portion and the collar bone engaging portion forming means for absolutely preventing the slipping of the violin.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved violin attachment of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one thatwill be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved shoulder rest in operative position on a violin.

' Figure 2 is a vertical section through the rest showing the same in operative position on a violin.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section through' a portion of the shoulder rest showing the means of connecting the upper and lower sections thereof together. Y

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein. similar reference characters des ignatc corresponding parts thoughout the several views, the letter A indicates the improved shoulder rest, and B, aviolin with which'it is associated.

Theviolin B is of the usual or any preferred construction and has been merely shown for illustrating the use of the shoulder rest.

The shoulder rest A includes thev upper section C and thelower section D, and the upper section C is adapted to be clamped the chin rest 5, which is of the usual or any preferred construction and configuration. As shown the chin rest is formed of relatively hard rubber and is shaped to form a seat forthe chin. The outer edge of the rest 5 has embedded therein the de pendingrods 6 and 7, which are in direct alignment with rods 8 and 9. The meeting ends of the rods are oppositely threaded and are connected by turn buckle nuts 10. These turn buckle nuts 10 form means for changing the active length of the rods, so as to firmly clamp the device to the violin B as will be hereinafter more specifically described. The rods 8 and 9 may be connected together by means of a connecting bight portion 1]., and this connecting bight portion 11 may be secured to a plate 12, which can be bent around the same. The plate 12 is formed on the rear edge of a body 13, which is of substantially hollow configuration, and this body 13, is adapted to rest upon the collar bone of the user. As shown the body 13 is provided with an upper wall 14:, which extends inwardly at right angles from the plate 12 and is adapted to engage the lower surface of the violin B and by adjusting the turn buckles 10, the chin rest 5 and the wall 141- can be brought into tight frictional engagement Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d 16 1922 with the violin so as to prevent slipping of the rest on the violin. If so desired a suitable pad 16 can be interposed between the wall 14 and the violin so as to prevent the scarring of the violin. The forward edge of the upper wall 14 is provided with'the depending extension 17, the side edges of which are provided with depending-ears 18.

The lower section D includes an arcuately curved arm 19, the upper end of which'has the side edges provided with ears 20v which are adapted to engage theears18. These ears 18 and 20 are provided with aligned openings I which may be threaded for the, reception of a detachable thumb screw 21, which is adapted tohold the upper and lower-sections C and D in their assembled positions. The extreme lower end of the arcuate arm 19 is provided with an outwardly extending extension 22, to which may be riveted at 23 the right angularly extending shoulder engaging seat 2-1. This shoulderengaging seat 24 may be covered by a suitable pad 25., so as not to rubthe users shoulder. This shoulder plate Ql is curved, so as to conform to the configuration or the shoulder and the outerends thereof may be widened as at 26 so to form enlarged.

bearing faces for the shoulder,

In use of the improved attachment, the same is placed on the violin as shown in Figu'reQ of the drawings, and the lower suriace oil the body13 formsa seat for resting on the collar bone, the plate 24 forms means for engaging the shoulder and the rest 5 means for receiving the chin, and the clamp{ ing action of the chin on the rest 5, will effectively preventthe slipping of the violin, thus permitting the same to be held Without the use of either hand, which allows tree fingering ot' the strings.

The construction oi the shoulder rest is very simple and when it is desired to place the violin in its case, it is merely necessary to move the screw 21 and take the lower sec; tion D from between the ears 18 and the violin can then be readily placed in its case.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. A support for violins comprising a clip for engaging the violin, a collar bone rest including an upper wall, depending side walls, and a lower collar bone engag ingwall, a forwardly extending downwardly inclined lip formed on the upper wall, ears formed on the side edges of the lip, a shoulder rest including an arcuate supporting arm, and a transversely extends ing shoulder engaging arm, ears formed on the side edges of the arcuate supporting arm arranged to engage the inner surfaces of the ears formed on the lip, and means for detachably extending through the ears for connecting the shoulder rest with the collar bone rest.

2. A support for violins comprising a chin rest arranged to engage the upper surface of the violin, a collar-bone rest including an upper wall arranged to engage the lower surface'ot the violin, an upwardlyextending wall adapted to engage the rear wall of a violin, depending sidewalls formed on the upper wall, a lower wall connecting the side walls, andaforwardly extendingdmvn wardly inclined ear formed on the forward edge of the upperwall, a shoulder rest including an arcuate' arm, and a"transversely extending shoulder engaging arm, means detachahly connectingthe" arcuate arm with the forwardly extending ear, and a'pad arranged around the transversely extending shoulder engagingarm.

3; Asupport forstring instruments cornpri'sing'a clip for adjustably engaging the insti'ume'nt, a depending rest formed on the clip imposition to-engage the collar bone oi the user, a forwardly extending downwardly inclined lip formed on the collar bonerest.

a forwardly and downwardly extending arm detachably secured to said lip, and a transversely extending curved arm carried by thefirstmentioned arm for engagingthe shoulder oftheuser.

GEORGE W; JORDAN. 

